Internal Support Structure and Food Container System

ABSTRACT

A food container and internal support structure has a hollow tubular member with an internal food support structure disposed therein. A top and bottom opening permit the sliding of the foodstuff internal support structure through the hollow tubular member as it is grasped underneath by a user manipulating a support structure handle. A sealing ring is disposed about the periphery of the internal support structure so as to make contact with the internal surface of the tubular member thereby preventing leakage of the contents therefrom.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND (1) Field of the Invention

Relating to improvements in alimentary containers. More specifically, relating to improvements in devices that support easy access to condiments, sauces, dips and similar foods.

The modern world has provided numerous container devices for the long term storage of foodstuffs. Containers have been devised that hold all sorts of foods; amongst these are the cork closed bottles and flasks that hold liquors, to the metal cans holding beer and soft drinks to the snap on containers that hold food for refrigeration. All of these safely hold the contents therein, however, when approaching dips, chips and sauces, the form of the containers that hold the aforementioned suffer from a lack of access to the items therein. More specifically, it is difficult to get to these foodstuffs as the contents are sometimes well down into the device so that some solution is needed to overcomes this deficiency.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A food container comprising a device having an internal and external surface and an internal support structure located within the device for the food therein wherein the internal support structure has an internal support structure surface that impacts the internal surface of the device wherein the device is a cylinder. The device further has a curved neck at a top portion of the device having an opening therein formed by a curved edge. Further there is a top lid covering the curved edge of the top portion; a bottom portion of the device having an opening therein. Also, there is a top lid covering a top opening in the device. Then there is a bottom lid covering a bottom opening in the device. The internal support structure further comprises a top curved bowl surface and a bottom curved device. Then there is a sealing material attached to the external surface of the bottom curved device. The internal support structure comprises a top portion and a bottom portion and further comprises a sealing material affixed to the outer surface of the bottom portion of the internal support structure; also, the sealing material is a rubber material.

A food container system having an internal support structure comprising a hollow tubular member with a bowl shaped integral surface at a top portion having an opening therein, a bottom portion having an opening therein and an internal support structure formed integrally from a top device and a bottom device, a sealing material formed on a surface of the internal support structure wherein the sealing material is a rubber ring.

A cylindrical food container comprising a cylinder having a bowl shaped top with an opening such that an internal support structure holds the foodstuffs therein and on top of an internal support structure that has a peripheral surface that is in physical contact with the internal surface of the cylinder and wherein the internal support structure has a smaller bowl that forms one large bowl with the bowl shaped top when placed up against a stop on the internal surface of the cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a illustrates the various components of a first embodiment of the Internal Support Structure and Food Container System as they are combined into a single entity.

FIG. 1 b illustrates the various components of a first embodiment of the Internal Support Structure and Food Container System shown separated from each other in order to distinguish the various components one from the other.

FIG. 1 c illustrates how the support structure rises inside of the tubular member of the Food Container System until reaching a stopping point protrusion.

FIG. 2 a illustrates the primary support structure of a first embodiment of the Internal Support Structure and Food Container System separated from the rest of the device.

FIG. 2 b illustrates the primary support structure of a first embodiment of the Internal Support Structure and Food Container System from a bottom view showing the handle manipulation device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 a illustrates the various components of a first embodiment of the Internal Structure and Food Support System as they are combined into a single entity. The Internal Support Structure and Food Container System 100 of the first embodiment is made up of a top lid 110, a top edge 115 forming an opening 160 for a curved neck 120, a bottom lid 130, a bottom edge 140 forming an opening 170 at the bottom of the container and an internal support structure 150. The Internal Support Structure and Food Container System 100 is primarily a hollow cylinder made from plastic, glass or similar materials. The Internal Support Structure and Food Container System 100 has both a top edge 115 and a bottom edge 140 that are covered during storage of the Internal Support Structure and Food Container System 100.

Top lid 110 covers the top edge 115 so that none of the contents of the container leak out. The top edge 115 is formed from the container 100 diameter expanding out to a larger diameter using a circumferentially expanding curve or conical portion 120. This forms a large bowl shape on top of the device that permits a user to gain easy access to the foodstuffs that ride atop a bowl shaped holding device 210 described below. Also, bottom lid 130 covers the bottom edge 140 so that none of the contents of the container leak out. A metallic or plastic rim may also be included on the exterior surface of the top edge 115 and the bottom edge 140 but is not shown for simplicity. This rim also works with a corresponding interior circumferential protrusion on the lids that corresponds to the aforementioned rim; the two cooperating together help hold the respective top lid 110 and bottom lid 130 to the corresponding top edge 115 and bottom edge 140.

FIG. 1 b illustrates the various components of a first embodiment of the Internal Structure and Food Support System 100 shown separated from each other. The Internal Support Structure and Food Container System 100 of the first embodiment is made up of a top lid 110, a top edge 115 forming an opening for a curved neck 120, a bottom lid 130, a bottom edge 140 forming an opening at the bottom of the container and an internal support structure 150. The various components are shown individually so that one can appreciate their various uses. In particular, it should be noted that as the hollow cylinder forming the primary structure of the Internal Support Structure and Food Container System 100 reaches its top it forms a conical or curved surface that expands from the primary diameter of the central cylinder out to a diameter that can accept a larger container lid 110. The particular curve or conical surface is determined at the time of the implementation of the device and system. The drawing further shows the Internal support structure 150 in clearer detail that is followed by even more detail in FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b.

FIG. 1 c illustrates how the support structure rises inside of the tubular member of the Food Container System until reaching a stopping point protrusion 180. The protrusion 180 is a small plastic (glass or other materials as well) overhang integral with the food container system at the bottom of the internal edge of the curved surface 120. It extends inwards sufficiently to prevent the support structure 150 from proceed outside of the tubular member upwards. Instead when this protrusion 180 is reached by the support structure 150 it creates a smaller bowl inside the bowl shape top 120. Thus, it is easier for a user to scoop out more of the contents from the enlarged bowl as shown in FIG. 1 c.

FIG. 2 a illustrates the primary support structure of a first embodiment of the Internal Structure and Food Support System; the entire primary support structure 200 is made from plastic, glass or similar materials except for a rubber band that acts as a sealing agent about the sides of a bottom surface device The Internal Support Structure 200 of the first embodiment comprises a top bowl 210, a bottom closing device 220, a sealing rubber band 230 and a handle 240 completely integrated as one entity. The internal support structure 200 has a top bowl 210 that is shaped as its name suggest as a bowl and more generally as a concave surface having sufficient depth to comfortably contain condiments, dips, potato chips and similar items. This top bowl 210 not only holds foodstuffs but acts to make physical contact with the interior surface of the cylinder 100 as the device rides up and down the cylinder 100 and exits through the bottom opening. Thus, food is pushed up the device as more and more of it is dispensed out through the top opening. The bottom of the top bowl 210 integrates with the bottom closing device along the exterior undersurface of the top bowl 210 and the top surface of device 220.

The bottom closing device 220 is made from a plastic material as described previously. It is similarly shaped as the top bowl 210, however, the bowl is inverted and the concavity therein is filled with plastic material; optionally, it is formed like hollowed out bowl 210 only inverted. On the periphery of the outer surface of the bottom closing device is a sealing rubber band 230 that has been attached to this outer surface; the rubber band 230 so described is attached about half way up or down the outer surface of the bottom closing device 220. The rubber band 230 is attached through glue, adhesives or similar substances; another alternative attachment process is through the process of melting it in union with the plastic external surface of the bottom closing device 220.

The Internal Support Structure 200 is finalized with the inclusion of a handle 240 that permits a user to grasp the bottom closing device 220; once he or she has gained control of the handle 240 it can be translated up and down the internal cylinder. Thus, access to the condiments, food stuffs and other materials therein is facilitated by the movement of the device upwards and downwards therein. It should be appreciated that the primary manner of using the device is for a user to use a hand to penetrate the bottom opening 170 formed by bottom edge 140 and them grab hold of the handle 240; once this is accomplished, a user can translate the device upwards through cylinder 100 until reaching the protrusions 180 that stop the device forming two bowls (the 120 bowl having an opening therein for the top portion of support structure 150) or more particularly, a single large bowl. As this is happening, the sealing rubber band 230 makes physical contact with the internal surface of the cylinder 100 so as to seal the device from leakage of the contents therein. Additionally, the top bowl and the bottom closing device act to further seal the device from leakage by making some contact with the interior surface of the cylinder 100 with their respective external surfaces.

FIG. 2 b illustrates the primary support structure of a first embodiment of the Internal Structure and Food Support System from a bottom view showing the handle manipulation device 240. The handle manipulation device 240 is a circular protrusion that extends out away from the central point of the internal support structure 200. More specifically, the handle manipulation device 240 extends down from the center of the bottom closing device 220 whether the hollowed out version or the solid version of the bottom closing device 220.

An alternative embodiment envisions that the sealing rubber band 230 is not included on the external surface of the Internal Support Structure 200. In this embodiment the peripheral external surfaces of the bowl 210 and bottom closing device also touch the internal surface of cylinder 100 such that a seal is created preventing leakage of the contents therein.

The invention has thus been described in such clear and precise terms as to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to understand its fundamental principles. 

I claim:
 1. A food container comprising: a cylindrical device having an internal and external surface and a moveable internal support structure located within the device for the food therein wherein the internal support structure has an internal support structure surface that impacts but that is not fixedly connected to the internal surface of the device.
 2. The food container of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical device has a bowl shaped protruding upper orifice.
 3. The food container of claim 1, further comprising: a curved neck at a top of the device having an opening therein formed by a curved edge.
 4. The food container of claim 3, further comprising: a top lid covering the curved edge of the top.
 5. The food container of claim 1, further comprising: a bottom of the device having an opening therein.
 6. The food container of claim 1, further comprising: a top lid covering a top opening in the device.
 7. The food container of claim 1, further comprising: a bottom lid covering a bottom opening in the device.
 8. The food container of claim 1, wherein the internal support structure further comprises: a top curved bowl surface.
 9. The food container of claim 8, wherein the internal support structure further comprises: a bottom curved device.
 10. The food container of claim 9, wherein the internal support structure further comprises: a sealing material attached to an external surface of the bottom curved device.
 11. The food container of claim 1, wherein the internal support structure further comprises: a sealing material attached to an external surface of the internal support structure.
 12. The food container of claim 1, wherein the internal support structure further comprises: a top bowl portion.
 13. The food container of claim 1, wherein the internal support structure further comprises: a bottom bowl portion.
 14. The food container of claim 1, wherein the internal support structure further comprises: a top bowl portion and a bowl portion.
 15. The food container of claim 14, wherein the internal support structure further comprises: a sealing material affixed to the outer surface of the bottom portion of the internal support structure.
 16. The food container claim 15, wherein the sealing material is a rubber material.
 17. A food container system having an internal support structure comprising: a hollow tubular member with a bowl shaped integral surface at a top of the hollow tubular member having an opening therein a bottom portion having an opening therein and a moveable internal support structure formed integrally from an oppositely disposed top device and a bottom device wherein the top device forms a uniform shape with the bowl shaped integral surface.
 18. The food container system of claim 17, further comprising: a sealing material formed on a surface of the internal support structure.
 19. The food container system of claim 18, wherein the sealing material is a rubber ring.
 20. A cylindrical food container comprising: a cylinder having a bowl shaped top with an opening such that the cylinder holds the foodstuffs therein and on top of an internal support structure that has a peripheral surface that is in physical contact with the internal surface of the cylinder and wherein the internal support structure has a smaller bowl that forms one large bowl with the bowl shaped top when placed up against a stop on the internal surface of the cylinder. 